Noah spent the entire day glancing at the door, anxiously waiting for Oliver to show up like he always did. Every time the cafe bell rang, his heart would skip a beat, hoping it was him. But as hours passed, and the usual buzz of customers came and went, there was still no sign of Oliver.
Maya, who was busy making coffee during her break, had been watching Noah's obvious impatience with a smirk. She couldn't help but notice the way his face lit up at every chime of the doorbell, only to fade back into disappointment.
Sidling up to him, Maya nudged him with her elbow. "What's got you so jittery? Waiting for someone special?" she teased, already knowing the answer.
Noah groaned, shooting her a playful glare. "Shut up, Maya."
She chuckled, about to tease him again, when the doorbell rang once more. This time, it was Oliver.
Maya's smirk widened as she leaned over and whispered, "Your date has arrived," just loud enough for Noah to hear but not Oliver, who was already heading to his usual seat. Noah shot her a look of exasperation, his face heating up slightly, but Maya just winked at him before returning to the counter.
However, something was off. The usual warmth between them was replaced by a strange, awkward silence. Oliver barely made eye contact and seemed unusually quiet, quickly sipping his coffee without the usual small talk or relaxed drawing sessions.
Noah, feeling the tension, tried to start a conversation, but Oliver's short, polite answers didn't help. It was as if something invisible had built a wall between them, and Noah couldn't understand why.
Within minutes, Oliver had finished his coffee and stood to leave. "I'll see you later, Noah," he mumbled, already heading for the door.
Noah blinked, confused by the suddenness. "Uh, yeah. See you," he replied, watching Oliver rush out of the cafe.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Maya burst into laughter, leaning against the counter and shaking her head. "You, my friend, are so stupid."
Noah frowned, still puzzled. "What? What did I do?"
Maya just grinned, her laughter dying down. "You'll figure it out eventually."